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I don’t really have a favorite retailer cause I live in Belgium and we don’t have a Sephora, … So I always have to buy online and mostly Nordstrom’s don’t send their make-up to Belgium so bad luck for me!

I’d have to agree with you on Nordstrom’s as my favorite beauty retailer. The sales associates and beauty reps (MAC and Trish McEvoy ) are so nice and very helpful. The other SA’s are also very helpful/nice, but TM and MAC are my current favorites. Shopping Nordstrom’s online is easy (and helps with creating your shopping list), but there is nothing like seeing, “feeling”, trying and touching the products. Too bad my Nordies does not carry NARS in-store. If you know exactly what you want, shopping Sephora online is great. I agree that the Sephora in-store can be overwhelming, especially on weekends and during the Holiday season. I love the MAC eye shadows, but being a newbie at make-up, I feel inadequate and somewhat intimidated when shopping in a MAC store. I hate that you need either a Neiman Marcus charge card (which I do not have) or cash to shop in NM’s! One purchase empties my wallet.

My favourite ones are Debenhams and Boots, because they’re the only ones that have loyalty cards. Unfortunately neither of them sell Mac, so for that I have to go to Bentalls or House of Fraser, but I often buy online direct from Mac too. Having said all that, I probably buy most things from eBay and I also found an online shop for Guerlain that is at least 10% cheaper than the Guerlain counters.

yeah, I totally agree that Sephora on store is utterly overwhelming! I always go in there knowing exactly what I want but I always get frazzled! I love Blue Mercury and my CCO is to DIE for! Actually spent $108 in there last night! LOL

CCO or Cosmetics Company Outlet (or Store) is a store where all Estee Lauder brands (MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Origins, etc) go after they’ve phased out at their respective stores and counters. And all the items are discounted (MAC eyeshadows for $10.25, MAC lipglasses for $10). So when MAC has a limited edition or discontinued item no longer available at the store you may be able to find it at the CCO. For example, I was able to get Deep Blue Green pigment (full size) from the Hello Kitty collection, Gladiola lipstick from the Dame Edna collection last night. They had available: Shadowy Lady Quad from the Cult of Cherry Collection, Studio Sculpt concealer and foundation… even Studio Mist foundation and that’s ancient! lol. There are so many oldies but goodies in that store. I LOVE love love the CCO in Philly… it has EVERYTHING! Even some permanent items like Revealing lipglass and Nocturnelle eyeshadow for $10…

The Bay since they carry MAC, NARS, Dior, Chanel and Make Up For Ever. They also have a points system that I can redeem for gift cards. Second fave is a tie between Shoppers Drug Mart & Sephora. Sephora has so many brands that no other store stocks. Shoppers usually has bonus points events and good sales.

I really prefer to shop online. When I go into Sephora, I’m always tripping over customers and sales associates crammed into that tiny space. I don’t love my local MAC counter either. I’ve never been to Nordstrom’s, but I have enjoyed shopping online there.

Mmmmm, I loathe on-line shopping because I love to touch everything. But I love Sephora – not overwhelming at all for me, the MAC store, and Macy’s – we have a good Macy’s selection. I wish we had a Nordstroms because I bet that would end up my favorite….

Right now, local is Sephora & MAC. They are building a Nordstroms store at my local mall, and I am familiar with the awesomeness of their beauty department (and the shoes aren’t half-bad either, just sayin’…) I can’t wait for next year!!!

I would have to say Macy’s only because they have a MAC there. For some reason I like going to the counters a little more than the stores. I feel overly bombarded when I go to the stores. I also really like Sephora but when I walk into the store I almost don’t know where to start or what I should buy because they have SO many things I want. I feel like shopping online is a little bit better for them.